No tub? Here’s 4 simple tricks for bathing kids when you just have a shower

Bath time is a part of childhood, but just because you don’t have a tub in your home, doesn’t mean your kids have to miss out on splash time.

We used to live in a unit with just a shower, so I am well-versed in the art of bathing little ones when you don’t have a tub.

If you also find yourself in the same boat, no pun intended, then I hope these tips will help you.

1. Enjoy showers together

One of the perks for babies when they don’t have a bath are the shower cuddles they get with a parent. There’s something so special about snuggling your nude little one under the trickle of water. It’s also time-saving. Two bodies cleaned at once! Also, if you can delegate this task to Dad if he’s around, it will give you ten minutes of baby-free time!

2. Use the laundry or kitchen sink

If your baby doesn’t like showers though and a baby’s bath won’t fit in your shower recess, consider the kitchen sink. If she’s still tiny, you may find this an easier way to bath her anyway as you will be standing up, instead of getting a sore back from bending over.

Then of course when she grows, there’s the bigger laundry sink if you have one.

If not, then there’s a very good work-around …

3. Get a storage tub like this

A flexible storage tub that you can get in a shape that WILL fit in your shower recess is the answer if a standard baby’s bath and laundry sink aren’t options for you. The beauty of these is that they are taller than they are wide. So they are great for bathing babies who can sit up and toddlers who may have outgrown the baby’s bath but are still too little for the big scary shower.

One like this one from Kmart will hold 42 litres of water and will be like a vertical swimming pool for your little one. Just fill it up to her waist height. And, of course, never ever leave her unattended when she’s splashing around. Not even for a second.

4. Get her used to the shower

Then of course there is going to come a time when she will outgrow the storage tub too. Before this time comes though, you’ll want to get her comfortable with the shower. Showers can be scary for little ones, so it’s a good idea to introduce it to her gradually.

If you have shower hose, let her hold it and have fun spraying around in the shower before actually standing under it. You could also turn on the shower to a trickle as she baths to get her used to the feeling of ‘rain’ falling on her.

Talk to her also about how she will soon stand up to shower “like a big girl” and try to get her excited about this next stage.